May 11, 2010

Here we are on the 50th anniversary of FDA approval of the birth control pill, and according to a Harris Poll released last week, our attitudes about the pill – generally speaking – remain positive:

Almost 9 in 10 Americans say the availability of the pill has been good for society – and 56% say it has been very good. Even 80% of Republicans say (though somewhat more tepidly) that access to the pill is good (either somewhat or very good).

Approximately 9 in 10 Americans believe the pill is effective at preventing pregnancy – and 59% say it is very effective. Regardless of gender and age.

However, access to the pill does not appear to have fully abated our apprehension about pregnancy (the unplanned kind). Sixteen years ago, 90% of Americans said that unplanned pregnancies were a problem in the United States – and 60% said a “really big problem.” Today these numbers have dropped significantly to 71% and 32% respectively but unfortunately are still too high.

The going belief remains that a decline in moral standards (which were apparently declining 16 years ago and are still declining today) and a lack of education are the main causes of unplanned pregnancies. Birth control (or lack thereof) does not appear to the major roadblock to eliminating unplanned pregnancies (at least that’s the perception). Though before we feel totally at ease with the state of birth control in the U.S., 68-81% of Americans still say that lack of access, understanding, or money to obtain and/or use birth control is at least somewhat of a factor in the rate of unplanned pregnancies.

So, what’s the public policy directive then – more money to schools, to sex education, to improving our moral standards? What should your local politician do?

March 16, 2010

With health care non-reform front and cent(rist) as it is, it seems like we could all stand to modify our habits along with our public policies.

Let’s start with the glass is half-empty (of cigarette smoke)… Americans have seen the truth and embraced it. We appear less likely to smoke cigarettes now than any other year since Harris Interactive began measuring our healthy behaviors, according to a recent Harris Poll. Today, only 17% of Americans say they smoke cigarettes – the same as in 2008 – but less than any other year on Harris’ record since 1983. Now, to be accurate, all the publicity about the harmful impact of nicotine has either been overlooked or disregarded by adults who chew tobacco and smoke cigars who still use in the same proportion as they did 5 years ago… perhaps a promotional hole in our anti-smoking campaign? And still 17% of Americans (nearly 1 in 5) admit to smoking cigarettes…

So let’s move on to the glass is half full (of sugary soda), it turns out that as a country, we are becoming more and more overweight (not to mention obese).

In 1983, only (?) 58% of Americans ages 25+ were overweight with 15% who were obese. Today, 78% are overweight and 34% are obese. In other words, obesity has more than doubled (!) in the past 25 years.

In fact, almost every year, the figures for obesity have either plateaued or increased. There have only been *3* years out of the past 25 in which the figures have fallen by more than one percentage point. So, bring it on, Jamie Oliver...We need you!

How have your health habits changed in the past decade? Are you (am I) one to talk?

March 01, 2010

According to a recent Harris Poll, 42% of Americans say they have become sick from something they ate over the past two years. And most know (or think they know) the culprit. The perception that a food has made you sick can change your food habits irrevocably. I mean it’s tough to shake the memories of an upset stomach.

[Since my first pregnancy, I still haven’t been able to look at a swordfish the same way again.]

26% of Americans who say they have experienced food poisoning of some flavor say they have eliminated that food from their diet ENTIRELY, and 15% say they will advise their friends and family to avoid it as well. So the bad PR alone is enough for food manufacturers/suppliers to make sure that no food misconduct happens on their watch, lest they be the subject of intense media scrutiny, loss of clients and increased legislative action.

[The sushi restaurant in our town must still be marveling at why it’s take-home has plummeted in the past few months – ever since my husband’s “stomach flu”.]

There is slightly more concern over the safety of fresh foods (like fruits, vegetables, meats and poultry) than there is over canned, frozen or other packaged food. But actually, I still wouldn’t describe the concern as overwhelming. Only 21% of Americans are extremely/very concerned that fresh foods are safe for their family to eat (although on the flip side, I suppose about 1 in 5 Americans being really concerned is nothing to belittle). And, 73% admit they have at least some concern. So, perhaps this latest figure is what’s most telling. How do Americans react who have a little bit of anxiety (but not much) about the fresh foods they eat – do they avoid it entirely? Eat it occasionally or only when offered? Or eat it without hesitation?

[Spinach still isn’t on my grocery list though I’ll eat the spinach burrito at Tomatillo and happily down my best friend’s spinach and artichoke dip.]

December 18, 2009

Nearly 1 in 10 (8%) youth say that they don’t know what they would do if someone they knew was being cyberbullied. ---Good Intentions: The Beliefs and Values of Teens and Tweens Today, commissioned by the Girl Scouts of the USA and conducted using online and school-based techniques between October 2, 2008 and January 23, 2009, among a national sample of 3,263 students—boys and girls in grades 3 through 12, both in and out of Girl Scouting

September 10, 2009

According to a recent study we conducted for Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, majorities of U.S. adults support laws that ban the use of cell phones or text messaging while driving. Almost 3 in 4 adults who support at least one aspect of the ban believe these laws should apply to all drivers, but about 1 in 4 think certain drivers should be singled out, for example teenagers, taxi drivers or bus drivers. So, I dedicate this post to the substantial minority above who think these laws shouldn’t apply to them:

Most drivers who have cell phones – not solely the teenager-y or chauffeur-y ones – choose to ignore the advice of safety experts and talk on their cell phones anyway while driving (72%, according to this summer’s Harris Poll).

The use of cell phones (or at least the perception of use) is on the rise. Most American drivers say they observe it more now than one year ago, and about 3 in 4 say they often or always notice drivers using cell phones when they are on the road.

July 24, 2009

The majority of U.S. adults (73%) believe prevention - for example, educational outreach to at-risk youth by community and church organizations - would be more effective at addressing the problem of gang violence among youth in American than law enforcement, that is, hiring more police to arrest youth who commit gang violence (20%). –-- commissioned by World Vision, conducted by telephone between June 26 and June 29, 2009 among 1,022 adults 18+

June 11, 2009

According to a recent Harris Poll, a strong majority of American drivers who have a cell phone (88%) believe that driving while talking on a cell phone is at least somewhat dangerous. ‘Ya think?

But most (72%) do it anyway – at least some of the time – and more than 1 in 4 admit to occasionally texting while driving. Probably for the same reason we (see earlier posts): a) eat too many fatty foods, b) bungee jump from high altitudes, c) pass on going to the gym in lieu of watching sitcoms, and d) go to Disney World rather than save for retirement.

And despite welcoming risk as I do and understanding the thrill of immediate gratification as I also do, it’s not rocket science why talking on a cell phone while driving a car is different. And P.S. why it’s a crime in many states.

But I’ll say it anyway for dramatic effect… it’s not just you who absorbs the risk. More than 2 in 3 Americans say they occasionally sit in a car as the passenger while the driver is talking on a cell phone.

And most drivers who admit to talking on a cell phone while at the wheel say that they typically hold the phone in their hand (rather than use a hands-free device), including about 1 in 2 who say they live in states where hand-held phone use is illegal.

So, what do you think? Are the risks not high or real enough? Or are the benefits (the waylaid boredom? the needed multi-tasking?) too enticing?